Umpire

Sun Jianxin loves the way New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden gives a batsman out, raising a crooked index finger. But China's top umpire has no plans to emulate the quirky Bowden and instead is just keen on getting it right.

The players weren't the only elites at Victoria Park - in fact umpire Eva Asderaki may well belong to a group that is more exclusive than the players. Asderaki is one of six women who bear the title of 'gold umpire'. To earn this title, umpires have to pass rigorous rounds of selection, courses and tests.

Munir Dar will go down in Hong Kong Sixes history as the first man to be dismissed by technology - given out by the third umpire after failing to make his ground while attempting to take a second run yesterday.

After 40 years of listening to cricket's cry of 'Howzat' - first as a player and then as an umpire - Srinvasaraghavan Venkataraghavan is ready to step away from the international arena, albeit a little reluctantly. If he had his way, undoubtedly he would continue to stand in the middle.

A top umpire walked out of a Premier League match at King's Park after being verbally and physically intimidated by a player. Pakistan Association left-wing Ashfaqullah Khan faces a lengthy suspension after 'severely intimidating' umpire John Stapley in a South China Premier League match against Hong Kong Football Club.

Dismayed officials of the Hong Kong Hockey Association (HKHA) will carry out an in-depth investigation to ferret out the culprits behind Tuesday night's assault on a leading umpire at a game between a visiting side from India and Pakistani-dominated local champions Shaheen at King's Park.

KHALSA have come out with their strongest condemnation yet of last week's decision by the Hong Kong Hockey Association (HKHA) to replay the Holland Cup semi-final against Pakistan Association on April 18.

IT'S always a worry submitting an unfavourable report on an umpire. The last thing Hong Kong wants is to get a reputation for moaning.

It was, however, interesting to note that the Canadian umpire who officiated in the Kenya match has been replaced for the remainder of the tournament. The Kenya report on him was far more damning than ours.